Summary
This paper by Bouis and Saltzman, published in Global Food Security, reviews the progress and evidence base for biofortification as a strategy to reduce micronutrient malnutrition, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It draws on work associated with the HarvestPlus programme, assessing how breeding staple crops for enhanced micronutrient content can complement existing interventions such as supplementation and industrial fortification. The authors likely argue that biofortification offers a cost-effective, sustainable pathway to improving nutritional outcomes at scale, particularly where dietary diversity is limited.
UK applicability
The findings are primarily relevant to low- and middle-income country contexts where staple crop dependence and micronutrient deficiency are most acute; applicability to the UK is limited, though the paper may inform broader policy discussions on crop nutrition and food system resilience.
Key measures
Micronutrient concentration in crops (e.g. iron, zinc, vitamin A); bioavailability estimates; dietary intake changes; reach and adoption metrics across HarvestPlus programmes
Outcomes reported
The paper reviews evidence on whether biofortified staple crops can improve micronutrient intake and nutritional status among deficient populations. It likely reports on efficacy of biofortification programmes across multiple crops and countries, including uptake and impact on human health outcomes.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.